Bill Text: MI HR0022 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to oppose the construction of an underground nuclear waste repository in the Great Lakes basin, and to urge Canadian officials to continue searching for alternative locations to bury nuclear waste which are outside the Great Lakes basin.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-15 - Referred To Committee On Energy Policy [HR0022 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-HR0022-Introduced.html
Rep. Hertel offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 22.
A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to oppose the construction of an underground nuclear waste repository in the Great Lakes basin, and to urge Canadian officials to continue searching for alternative locations to bury nuclear waste which are outside the Great Lakes basin.
Whereas, Ontario Power Generation is proposing to construct an underground long-term burial facility for all of Ontario’s low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste—some of which is highly radioactive and much of which will remain toxic for over 100,000 years—at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station. This site, less than a half mile inland from the shore of Lake Huron and about 440 yards below the lake level, is approximately 120 miles upstream from the main drinking water intakes for Southeast Michigan; and
Whereas, Lake Huron and the other Great Lakes are critically important resources to both the United States and Canada. The Great Lakes contain 95 percent of North America's surface freshwater, providing drinking water to tens of millions of people. Pristine water is important not only for public health but also for agriculture, commercial and sport fishing, boating, recreation, and tourism in Michigan and throughout the region. These industries are all important components of the Great Lakes economy; and
Whereas, The threat of radioactive water could be devastating to Michigan’s tourism and agriculture industries. Roughly 96 million travelers come to Michigan each year, and many potential tourists may be discouraged from a trip to the Great Lakes, creating severe economic hardship for the state’s vast tourist destinations. Michigan’s agriculture industry, which adds more than $91.4 billion to the state economy annually, is dependent on Great Lakes water for irrigation. Polluted water used for irrigation could contaminate agricultural crops and livestock in the state and cause serious harm to the well-being of the general public; and
Whereas, Placing a permanent nuclear waste burial facility so close to the Great Lakes is ill-advised. The potential damage to the Great Lakes from any leak or breach of radioactivity far outweighs any benefits that could be derived from burying radioactive waste at this site. The ecology of the Lakes, which is valuable beyond measure to the health and economic well-being of this entire region, should not be placed at risk by storing radioactive waste so close to the shoreline; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to oppose the construction of an underground nuclear waste repository in the Great Lakes basin; and be it further
Resolved, That we urge Canadian officials to continue searching for alternative locations to bury nuclear waste which are outside the Great Lakes basin; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the Chairman of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Canadian Prime Minister, the Premier of Ontario, and the President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
